On kulunut tasan kymmenen vuotta siitä, kun tsunami iski Intian valtameren rannoille. Pelkästään Sri Lankassa tsunami vaati yli 30 000 kuolonuhria, ja 1-1,5 miljoonaa ihmistä joutui jättämään kotinsa. Henkilöuhrien lisäksi aineelliset vahingot olivat suunnattomat.
Tsunamin jäljet näkyvät rannikolla edelleen. Tsunamin uhrien muistolle on pystytetty myös muistomerkkejä ja pieni mutta koskettava valokuvamuseo.
Maiju ja Mikko olivat tsunamin aikaan Intian Goassa ensimmäisellä maailmanmatkallaan Intian Goassa. Siellä luonnonkatastrofi näkyi vain vedenpinnan korkeudessa ja aaltojen koossa.
Exactly ten years ago, the tsunami hit the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean. In Sri Lanka alone, the disaster took over 30,000 lives, and 1-1.5 million people were displaced. Material losses were also enormous.
Signs of the tsunami can still be seen on the coast of Sri Lanka. Memorials and a small but moving photo museum have been dedicated to the victims.
In December 2004, Maiju and Mikko were in Goa, India, on their first longer trip. There, the only signs of the natural disaster were bigger waves and higher water level in the ocean.
Buddha statue in Peraliya, erected to commemorate the victims of the tsunami
Small Buddha statues at the foot of the big one
Bronze relief monument to the tsunami victims
Tsunami photo museum in Telwatta village
Photos of the Queen of the Sea train, which was struck near Telwatta and thrown off the tracks. More than 1,500 passengers were killed.
In addition to photos depicting the havoc caused by the tsunami, the museum also shows children’s drawings dealing with the big wave
Along the Galle Road, ruins of tsunami-devastated houses still stand
Skeleton of a tsunami-ruined house near Hikkaduwa
Directions for tsunami emergency
A signpost pointing out the evacuation route in case of tsunami
On this paradise beach, it is hard to grasp the capriciousness of the sea